Research Manager

Description

Practical Farmers of Iowa is a nonprofit organization that has worked to equip farmers to build resilient farms and communities since 1985. We create learning opportunities via farmer-led events, on-farm research and educational content through our robust network of farmers. We also provide funding and technical assistance to help farmers adopt regenerative farming practices and grow farm businesses. Our vision is an Iowa with healthy soil, healthy food, clean air, clean water, resilient farms and vibrant communities.

This work has always been rooted in our value of welcoming everyone and creating a culture of mutual respect. We believe that a diversity of people, ideas and perspectives strengthens our ability to find creative solutions, enriches our understanding and broadens our impact. At Practical Farmers, we celebrate this diversity and are committed to ensuring that our policies and practices create an equitable and inclusive workplace.

We take equal opportunity seriously and seek to empower and support all applicants and teammates.

Practical Farmers offers a flexible, supportive and fast-paced work environment. Professional development is a core part of our culture and team members are encouraged to take independent initiative to help fulfill our mission.

PFI’s research department is primarily responsible for our Cooperators’ Program, through which farmers conduct timely and relevant on-farm research to answer questions about their farms and share what they’ve learned with others.

PFI also offers incentive and technical support programs for environmentally friendly farming practices, many of which have been verified by on-farm research. Through these programs, we work with thousands of farmers in Iowa and surrounding states. These farmers share data with us on everything from farm enterprises and management practices to field locations, soil attributes and cover crops on their farms.

We’re seeking a research manager to lead applied research initiatives that help PFI better understand, measure and communicate the impacts of cover crops and other conservation practices on working farms. This work will involve creating and managing systems for collecting, analyzing and interpreting farm data – specifically, agronomic, environmental and geospatial data from PFI’s research and incentive programs.

A major focus of the role is advancing the use of remote sensing and GIS technologies to assess cash crop and cover crop performance. These tools will also be used to monitor conservation outcomes and generate actionable insights that support both farmer decision-making and organizational learning. As part of this work, the research manager will transform complex datasets into clear analyses, maps, visualizations and reports that show program impact and contribute to a growing understanding of resilient agricultural systems.

This person will also join ongoing initiatives investigating nitrogen use efficiency in soil health management systems and the role cover crops play in cash crop yield stability.

In addition to leading technical research activities, the research manager will coordinate and help direct collaborative, multipartner projects involving farmers, university researchers and PFI staff. This person will also help secure and manage funding, cultivate strategic partnerships and communicate findings through grant reports, articles, presentations, online tools and peer-reviewed publications. Through this work, the research manager will ensure that high-quality research is translated into practical knowledge that benefits farmers, informs conservation efforts and advances PFI’s organizational…